Indonesian Police Force Separates From Military

The Indonesian military relinquished command of the police force Thursday as part of a government push to reform the armed forces, tainted by charges of corruption and human rights abuses.

At a ceremony at his headquarters, military chief Gen. Wiranto said the move will make the police more independent, in line with Indonesia’s efforts to shed the authoritarian legacy of former President Suharto. Like many Indonesians, Wiranto and Suharto have only one name.

The overhaul of the 187,000-member force is expected to take two years.

“We hope the police will change in their attitude and behavior, based on their function and role as the protector of the people,” Wiranto told 1,000 police and soldiers.

Critics said the transfer of power is cosmetic because Wiranto is defense minister and will remain head of the police.

The force, which has received military training since Suharto rose to power in the 1960s, has long been accused of graft and other abuses. Since the downfall of Suharto in May, outnumbered police have often stood by during rioting in this Southeast Asian nation of 210 million people.

Meanwhile, the death toll from fighting between Muslims and Christians in an eastern Indonesian town has risen to eight, the official Antara news agency said Thursday.

At least 27 others were injured in the clash that began Wednesday in Tual city in Maluku province, where religious riots this year have killed more than 200 people. Most of the victims died in Ambon, the provincial capital.

The two sides attacked each other with spears, arrows and crude bombs.

Lt. Col. Simon Monte, the police chief in Tual, said at least 50 houses were burned in the latest violence. Tual is 1,750 miles east of Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

The riot forced thousands of city dwellers to take refuge at military and police facilities.